PREHISTORIC REMAINS

one in the quarry, under a drip from above, is known .by the

equivalent for " Dropping Water," while a, series inside the

crater are called after the birds which frequent the cliff-side,

" Kia-kia, Flying," " Kia-kia, Sitting/' and so forth. A solitary

legend relates to an unique figure, resembling rather a hlock

than an image, which lies on the surface on the outside of the

.mountain (no. 24, fig. 60). It is the single exception to the rule

mentioned above, that no evolution can be traced in the statues

on the island. The usual conception is there, and the hands

are shown, but the head seems to melt into the body and the

ear and arm to have become confused. It is said to have been

the first image made and is known as Tai-har6-atua, which

tradition says was the name of the maker. He found himself

unable to fashion it properly, and went over1 to the other side

of the island to consult with a man who lived near Hanga Roa,

named Rauwai-ika. He stayed the night there, but the expert

remained silent, and he was retiring disappointed in the morning,

when he was followed by his host, who called him back. " Make

your image," said he, " like me,"—that is, in form of a man.

On our first visit to the mountain, overcome by the wonder
of the scene, we turned to our Fernandez boy and asked-him
what he thought of the statues. Like the classical curate, when
the bishop inquired as to the character of his egg, he struggled
manfully between the desire to please and a sense of truth; like
the curate, he took refuge in compromise. " Some of them/' he
said doubtfully, he thought " were very nice." If the figures
at first strike even the cultured observer as crude and archaic,
. it must be remembered that not only are they the work of stone
tools, but to be rightly seen should not be scrutinised near at ~
hand, " Hoa-haka-nanaia," for instance, is wholly and dismally
out of place under a smoky portico, but on the slopes of a moun-
tain, gazing in; impenetrable calm over sea-and land, the sim-
plicity of outline is soon found to be marvellously impressive.
The longer the acquaintance the more this feeling strengthens;
there is always the sense of quiet dignity, of suggestion and of
mystery.

. rWb3e the scene on Raraku always arouses a species of awe,
;|| fe i^rticuterly inspiring at sunset, When, as the light fades,
gradually become outlined as stupendous black
t the gorgeous colouring of the west. The most